Book-type file for punched papers

ABSTRACT

A file for punched papers comprises a stiff back cover member and a pliant front cover member connected thereto by means of flap extensions threaded through slits in the back cover member. At least one flap extension of the front cover member also forms part of looseleaf binder inside the file in cooperation with flexible tongues onto which the punched papers to be filed are threaded. In a preferred form the two cover members are held together by a channel bar. In another form rivets or the like are used to hold together the two interconnected cover members. The file may be closed by snap fasteners.

United States Patent Carl Erik Grundell [72] lnventor Osmogatan 8, Enskede, Sweden [21] Appl. No. 31,198 [22] Filed Apr. 23, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [54] BOOK-TYPE FILE FOR PUNCHED PAPERS 7 Claims, 13 Drawing Figs.

52 u.s. (:1 402/8, 402/75 [51] Int. Cl 842i 13/06 [50] Field of Search 402/8, 13, 14,15,18, 74, 75; 281/21, 25, 29

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,347,342 7/l920 l e wis...... 402 13 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,074,006 1/1960 Germany 318,252 12/1969 Sweden Primary Examiner.lerome Schnall Attorney-Arnold Robinson ABSTRACT: A file for punched papers comprises a stiff back cover member and a pliant front cover member connected thereto by means of flap extensions threaded through slits in the back cover member. At least one flap extension of the front cover member also forms part of looseleaf binder inside the file in cooperation with flexible tongues onto which the punched papers to be filed are threaded. In a preferred form the two cover members are held together by a channel bar. ln another form rivets or the like are used to hold together the two interconnected cover members. The file may be closed by snap fasteners.

I PATENTEUntnaasn SHEET 2 OF 2 1 Fig.7 24F Fig.6A

BOOK-TYPE FILE FOR PUNCIIED PAPERS This invention relates to a book-type file for punched papers and more specifically to a paper file comprising a front cover member, a back cover member and a looseleaf binder partly formed integral with the file itself.

It is a main object of the invention to provide an improved paper file of the kind referred to, in which the front cover member and the back cover member, respectively, may be made from separate, flat blanks, the back cover member from a relatively rigid platelike material, such as thick and stiff cardboard or the like, capable of giving the file a stiffness and stability which will make it easy to handle and also contribute in making it capable of standing on its edge without sagging, and the front cover member from a relatively pliant sheet material, such as relatively thin cardboard, relatively thick plastic film (also known as sheet plastic) or the like, which will make the file easy to open and also contribute in making the capacity of the file very flexible, so that one and the same type of file may be used for various amounts of papers and adapt its width or thickness substantially to its actual contents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paper file of the kind referred to, in which a neat and reliable connection between the back cover member and the front cover member can be obtained without glueing, and in which the front cover member will cover and surround the one marginal portion of the back cover member in a manner to prevent a local separation of the two members at the joint.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a paper file of the kind referred to in which the front cover member is fonned integral with at least one flap extension which will not only fonn a part of the looseleaf binder to be incorporated in the file but also a means for establishing an improved engagement between the two cover members, and in which simple and inexpensive, slender tongue members of flexible material form supplemental parts of the looseleaf binder.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved paper file which can be positively closed by means of snapfastening means so as to form a compact unit when stored.

With these and other objects in view the invention will now be described more closely with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating two specific embodiments thereof. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front cover member of a first form of paper file,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the back cover member of the same first form of file,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the first form of file during its assembly,

FIG. 4 is a front view of the complete first form of file,

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the complete first form of file,

FIGS. 6A and 68 shown, on a strongly enlarged scale, end portions of a section taken along the line VlVl in FIG. 4,

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a separate plastic tongue member used in files of the kind illustrated,

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the front cover member of a second and slightly modified form of file,

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the back cover member of the second form of file,

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the second fonn of file partly assembled,

FIG. II is a front view of the complete second form of file, and

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the complete second form of file.

In the drawings the first form of file as illustrated in FIGS. 1-6 is a type particularly preferred for use with papers or documents punched according to European practice, i.e. with at least one pair of holes appearing approximately midway between the ends of the punched margin and with a relatively short distance between the holes, say about 3 to 4% inches.

The paper file then comprises as its main components a front cover member 20, FIG. I, made of a relatively pliant sheet material, preferably a relatively thin cardboard or a relatively stiff plastic film, and a back cover member 22, FIG. 2,

made of a relatively rigid, platelike material, preferably a thick and stiff cardboard or the like. In addition, the file comprises two slender tongue members 23, FIG. 7, made of flexible plastic material and having each a T-shaped head 24 and a pointed free end 25. The long shank of these tongue members is formed to readily passthrough the holes of the punched papers to be filed and has a flat, substantially rectangular cross section. As an optional supplement the file may also comprise a thin plastic sheet pocket 26, shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 only, which is then preferably of a standard size and included to receive an index or small loose notes which cannot be suitably punched. v

The front cover member 20 is cut out as shown in FIG. I with a substantially rectangular main portion 28, a left-hand marginal portion 30 divided into three strips by folding lines, and a relatively narrow right-hand marginal portion 32 separated from the main portion 28 by two parallel folding lines. The. right-hand marginal portion 32 is substantially trapezoidal in shape and small flaps or ears 34 project from its oblique sides while a larger, perforated flap extension 36 projects from its outer end. Each car 34 may suitably be separated from the remainder of the front cover member by a folding line and so may also the flap extension 36 which also has a transverse folding line'at some distance from its root. All folding lines are indicated by dash-and-dot lines and left without identifying reference numerals because, as the man skilled in the art will readily understand, they may be dispensed withi the blank itself.

The back cover member 22 is cut out as shown in FIG. 2 with a substantially rectangular shape having a centrally located incut 38 in its one side edge and three longitudinally spaced slits 40, 42 and 44 punched near its opposite side edge. The middle slit 42 is parallel to the adjacent side edge, while the two slits 40 and 44 are inclined to coincide with the oblique sides of the right-hand marginal portion 32 of the front cover member. A series of holes 46 are punched in the relatively narrow left-hand portion of the member outside the middle slit 42 and these holes register with corresponding holes 48 in the flap extension 36 of the front cover member 20.

In assembling the file, the flaps 34 and 36 of the front cover member 20 are first threaded from behind through their corresponding slits 40, 42, 44 in the back cover member 22 and the two tongue members 23 are threaded from behind through the suitable pair of holes 46 and through the corresponding holes 48 at the root of the flap 36 so that the heads 24 of the tongue members will be retained and come to rest on the back of the back cover member as shown in FIG. 6A, where the heads will be covered by the marginal portion 32 of the front cover member 20. If the plastic sheet pocket 26 is provided, the same, which is, of course, provided with the same slits and holes as the back cover member, is placed in front of the back cover member 22 before the tongue members are put in positions. Thereupon all the flaps 34 and 36 are folded back towards the adjacent side edge of the back cover member on the front side of member 22 and the central, perforated flap extension 36 is again folded over itself to extend inwardly over the back cover member and the tongues 23 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The outermost strip of the left-hand marginal portion 30 of the front cover member 20 is folded back over the next inner strip and snap fastener female members 50 are attached to the double-folded edge portion thus obtained while corresponding snap fastener male members 52 are attached to the free righthand marginal portion of the back cover member 22. Finally the front cover member is folded in over the back cover member and a channel bar member 54 is slid longitudinally in over the folded portion of the front cover member surrounding the left-hand margin of the back cover member to thereby lock and retain the folded flaps 34 and 36. In the example shown the channel bar member 54 is of the type described in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,298,374 but this is not necessary as long as the bar is capable of staying in position and of holding together the various parts as more clearly illustrated in FIG. 6A.

it should be understood that the punched papers 56 to be inserted in the file as shown in FIG. 6 are threaded on to the free ends of the tongue members 23 and then the latter are in turn passed through a suitable corresponding hole 48 in the free portion of the flap extension 36. For the sake of simplicity the flap 36 and the tongue member 23 in FIG. 6A have been shortened, but this does not change their general manner of operation and it will be readily understood that they form in cooperation a simple but reliable looseleaf binder of which the one part, viz the flap 36, is integral with the front cover member 20 of the file.

At the same time a neat and reliable connection between the front cover member and the back cover member is obtained, particularly because the flaps 34 and 36 assist in holding the edges of the trapezoidal marginal portion 32 of the front cover member close to the back of the back cover member as seen in FIG. 5.

The modified form of file illustrated in FIGS. 8-12 differs only in details from the one already described and is adapted to receive papers punched according to the United States practice, only the two outer holes of the usual three being used for attaching the papers. The general appearance of the front cover member 60, FIG. 8, is the same as before but the two ears projecting from the oblique sides of the right-hand marginal portion thereof have been extended and perforated as at 64 while the central flap 66 has been considerably shortened. Also the general appearance of the back cover member 62, FIG. 9, is unchanged but the holes 46 inside the middle slit 42 have been replaced by holes 68 inside the respective outer slits 40 and 44. The preliminary assembly of the file is also substantially the same, as can be seen from FIG. 10 but now the tongue members 23 are located under the extended ears or flaps 64 which are double-folded in front of the back cover member.

It should be understood that also the file shown in FIGS. 8-12 can be completed by means of a channel bar member, such as member 54 in FIGS. 4-6, but, if a more inexpensive file is desired, the channel bar may be replaced by a number of rivets 70 holding together the front cover member around the inner portion of the back cover member. These rivets 70 may, of course, be replaced by staples or by any suitable type of male-female fasteners commonly used in holding parts together, such as screw and nut fasteners, snap lock fasteners or the like.

As can be readily seen, the present invention makes it possible to manufacture a simple and neat paper file without any glueing operations and still with a full freedom to use just the most desirable material in each part thereof. The two cover members are reliably interconnected in a manner to not interfere with other files in an archive and the file can stand on its edge without sagging or defonning. Since the file may be closed, the documents contained therein will also be very well protected during storage. The simple construction of the file and the full utilization of the material used will make it inexpensive and yet well suited for most office filing tasks.

I claim:

1. A book-type file for punched papers comprising in combination:

a. a relatively rigid, platelike .back cover member of generally rectangular configuration having at least one slit formed therein at a relatively short distance from the one edge of the member and extending along said edge so as to divide each face of said back cover member into a relatively broad main portion, which is between the slit and the remote edge of the member, and a relatively narrow outer portion, which is between the slit and adjacent edge of the member,

a relatively pliant sheetlike front cover member generally extending over the front face of said back cover member and having a relatively narrow marginal portion folded over on the back of said outer portion of the back cover member, said folded-over marginal portion of the front cover member having at least one perforated flap extension formed integral therewith and projecting from the free edge thereof, said flap extension being first threaded from behind through said slit in the back cover member, then folded back outwards over the front face of the outer portion of said member and, finally, again folded back over itself to extend inwards over the front face of said main portion of the back cover member under the front cover member to form a perforated free flap portion serving as a first part of a looseleaf binder,

c. at least two spaced, slender tongue members of flexible material having each a free end portion adapted for passing through related holes in the punched papers to be filed and then through a related perforation in said free flap portion formed by the folded flap extension to thereby serve as a second part of the looseleaf binder, each of said tongue members having its opposite end retained on the back of said outer portion of the back cover member and covered by said marginal portion of the front cover member, and

. means for holding together said outer portion of the back cover member and that portion of said front cover member, which covers the double-folded portion of said flap extension in front of said outer back cover portion in a manner to retain said double-folded flap portion in its given position to thereby secure a reliable connection between the adjoining portions of the back cover member and the front cover member.

2. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein said back cover member is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slits along its one edge, and wherein said folded-over marginal portion of the front cover member has a plurality of flap extensions formed integral therewith, at least one of which is perforated, all said flap extensions being threaded from behind through related slits in the back cover member and then folded back outwards over the front face of said outer portion of said member, and at least the perforated one or ones of said flap extensions being again double-folded to extend inwards over the front face of said main portion of the back cover member.

3. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 2, wherein said slits in the back cover member form a small angle with each other, and wherein said flap extensions project in slightly diverging directions from said folded-over marginal portion of the front cover member.

4. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein said tongue members of flexible material each have a substantially flat, T-shaped head at their one end, said head being retained on the back of said outer portion of the back cover member and covered by said folded-over marginal portion of the front cover member, the free end of each tongue member being threaded from behind through a related opening in the back cover member and through a perforation in the related flap extension to become exposed under said free flap portion thereof.

5. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein said means for holding together said outer portion of the back cover member and that portion of the front cover member covering the same are fastening means of the general class comprising rivets, staples and male-female fasteners.

6. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein said means for holding together said outer portion of the back cover member and that portion of the front cover member covering the same is a channel bar member having flanges gripping over that outer edge portion of the back cover member which is surrounded by the folded front cover member.

7. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein the free margin of the back cover member and the free margin of the front cover member are both provided with interlockable snap fastener means. 

1. A book-type file for punched papers comprising in combination: a. a relatively rigid, platelike back cover member of generally rectangular configuration having at least one slit formed therein at a relatively short distance from the one edge of the member and extending along said edge so as to divide each face of said back cover member into a relatively broad main portion, which is between the slit and the remote edge of the member, and a relatively narrow outer portion, which is between the slit and adjacent edge of the member, b. a relatively pliant sheetlike front cover member generally extending over the front face of said back cover member and having a relatively narrow marginal portion folded over on the back of said outer portion of the back cover member, said folded-over marginal portion of the front cover member having at least one perforated flap extension formed integral therewith and projecting from the free edge thereof, said flap extension being first threaded from behind through said slit in the back cover member, then folded back outwards over the front face of the outer portion of said member and, finally, again folded back over itself to extend inwards over the front face of said main portion of the back cover member under the front cover member to form a perforated free flap portion serving as a first part of a looseleaf binder, c. at least two spaced, slender tongue members of flexible material having each a free end portion adapted for passing through related holes in the punched papers to be filed and then through a related perforation in said free flap portion formed by the folded flap extension to thereby serve as a second part of the looseleaf binder, each of said tongue members having its opposite end retained on the back of said outer portion of the back cover member and covered by said marginal portion of the front cover member, and d. means for holding together said outer portion of the back cover member and that portion of said front cover member, which covers the double-folded portion of said flap extension in front of said outer back cover portion in a manner to retain said double-folded flap portion in its given position to thereby secure a reliable connection between the adjoining portions of the back cover member and the front cover member.
 2. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein said back cover member is formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced slits along its one edge, and wherein said folded-over marginal portion of the front cover member has a plurality of flap extensions formed integral therewith, at least one of which is perforated, all said flap extensions being threaded from behind through related slits in the back cover member and then folded back outwards over the front face of said outer portion of said member, and at least the perforated one or ones of said flap extensions being again double-folded to extend inwards over the front face of said main portion of the back cover member.
 3. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 2, wherein said slits in the back cover member form a small angle with each other, and wherein said flap extensions project in slightly diverging directions from said folded-over marginal portion of the front cover member.
 4. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein said tongue members of flexible material each have a substantially flat, T-shaped head at their one end, said head being retained on the back of said outer portion of the back cover member and covered by said folded-over marginal portion of the front cover member, the free end of each tongue member being threaded from behind through a related opening in the back cover member and through a perforation in the related flap extension to become exposed under said free flap portion thereof.
 5. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein said means for holding together said outer portion of the back cover member and that portion of the front cover member covering the same are fastening means of the general class comprising rivets, staples and male-female fasteners.
 6. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein said means for holding together said outer portion of the back cover member and that portion of the front cover member covering the same is a channel bar member having flanges gripping over that outer edge portion of the back cover member which is surrounded by the folded front cover member.
 7. A book-type file for punched papers according to claim 1, wherein the free margin of the back cover member and the free margin of the front cover member are both provided with interlockable snap fastener means. 